From the moment this story starts, you’re completely engulfed in this… palpable feeling of 90’s love. I could hear the soft playlist in the background as I read — Sade, Snoh Allegra, Soloange, Victoria Monet. It felt like watching Brown Sugar (2002 Film, BLESS YOURSELF) for the first time. This novel feels the way golden hour feels. Warm and rich like honey.

Now, were there moments I wanted to shake Kaliya and tell her to STAND UP? yes. But did I feel her? VERY MUCH YES.

If you loved Reel by Kennedy Ryan, especially the ode to Black art and a story within a story, you NEED to pick up When I Think of You when it releases on April 16th!!

This second chance romance is a delightful read! Danny, working in the film industry, enlists his former love, Kaliya, to help produce a movie inspired by his parents' love story. The witty dialogue and genuine friendship between the characters add charm without being overly cheesy. Witnessing the rekindling of their relationship after years apart is captivating, even though the reasons for their initial breakup remain unclear. While the third-act breakup and certain character choices were not to my liking, overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The touching scene featuring Danny's parents confronting racism adds depth to the narrative. Readers should be aware of trigger warnings for racism, as it's a central theme in the plot.

I absolutely loved this debut. Thx to PRH Audio for the complementary ALC.

This book is a lovely second chance romance. I always worry about that trope; because for me I just don’t always buy it. This one is different. The main characters - Kaliya and Danny - had a relationship in college. They reunite years later, but they haven’t fully been pining after each other. I really loved how Kaliya pushed Danny to discuss their breakup and what happened. I also really loved how Kaliya put herself first when there was a situation that forces them to break up. She decides she needs to work on herself.

I really enjoyed Kaliya’s relationship with her best friend/roommate Neha. I giggled during some of their scenes. I also really enjoyed Kaliya’s relationship with Bella. How she supports and encourages her; and doesn’t hold it against her how she got the assistant job.

I would definitely recommend this one.

I loved this romance. It was sweet and fiery. As you unravel the emotional baggage of their past, you have a fun cast of characters that are a part of the current production in the mix. This was one of those books that I pretty equally liked both the MMC and the FMC instead of preferring one character or story to the other. This was my first time hearing of this author and I definitely want to read more. Overall it was great!

When I Think of You starts with us meeting Kaliya Wilson who is a down-on-her-luck receptionist at a film studio. Things immediately change when Kaliya comes face-to-face with her ex, Danny Prescott. The two were together in college until something broke them apart and from there, it’s been radio silence.

Of course, Danny needs someone to help him with his newest project and he enlists Kaliya to help out. While things don’t go exactly to plan, they end up working in close quarters, and from there, it’s honestly like watching a great movie. Kaliya and Danny are trying to be professional as she wants to be taken seriously and he has a girlfriend yet the attraction is still there.

All of this is set amidst us learning about their history while Danny is trying to direct a movie based on his parents’ love story. Danny’s parents are Hollywood royalty and honestly, you’ll be as equally sucked into their story. At its core, When I Think of You is also a love letter to cinema and the world of movie-making while also showcasing the reality of how the game is played sometimes.

The book also doesn't shy away from some ugly things as Kaliya is constantly being berated and talked down to by her bosses at the studio, Danny’s girlfriend, and anyone who doesn’t take her seriously. Danny is also still processing some of his grief and the feeling attached to the death of his father. While this book was tough to read at times, the pacing and writing helped me to push through those tough moments.

Overall, When I Think of You was a book I devoured and I frankly can’t wait for more from Myah Ariel. If you’re a movie buff, love Black romance, or want a new release to add to your TBR, then look no further than When I Think of You.

This book was absolutely BEAUTIFUL. This was a book about LOVE, Kaliya and Danny’s love, Danny’s parents love, his love for his parents, Danny and Kaliya’s love of movies. It was SO GOOD. It was also a story about grief, finding yourself, following your dreams and being able to change and grow and find your way. I loved this book so much.

I love a second chance SO MUCH. The flashbacks to film school were perfect, I loved having a look into where they began. Even when Kaliya would just be thinking about ‘this time when’ made it so clear how much they both loved each other so much. They found each other at the exact right time. For a while it was right, and then for a long time even after they found each other again it was just the right person wrong time and it HURT.

I loved that when they met again it was like everything clicked back into place. Even though it wasn’t easy…the slow burn was worth it. The tension and the longing and the eventual confessions, reflections, and revelations were so worth it. Their communication was rough for a while, which made sense, they were both scared and there was so much on the line, even though they wanted answers and they wanted to talk about it.

I loved the ending so much. The epilogue specifically was perfect. I wish more than anything we could see the movie! Danny’s love for his parent’s and their love was so apparent. I cannot wait to see what else Myah Ariel does!!

Thank you so much to Berkley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I was immediately drawn to this book solely because of the cover since it was screaming BLACK LOVE!!

Our FMC, Kaliya, is hard working and trying to just get her shot into the movie industry so she can prove herself. With all her talent, she finds herself working as a receptionist at a film studio. Her ex-boyfriend Danny walks in one day for a meeting because he’s got a huge movie deal in the works and he offers her a chance to join the team. Things are looking up until Hollywood scandal and drama threaten to turn things up a bit.

I thought this story was so cute and layered with romance and lots of depth. I enjoyed the inside view of the Hollywood world and the complexities of Kaliya + Danny’s relationship from their film school days till present day. The romance between the two was very believable, you could feel the vulnerability between them throughout the story. The author gave us glimpses into their past where we see how they came to be and then what led to their break up. I appreciated the aspect of the lack of diversity in the movie industry and even how nepotism can really trump someone else’s chances of getting a shot based on their experience vs someone being related to somebody in a high seat (that part was hard to read through as it made me mad).

Read if you love:
🎬 second chance romance
🎬 movie industry setting
🎬 slow burn romance
🎬 workplace romance/drama
🎬 black FMC / biracial MMC
🎬 happily ever after (hea)

1/4 of the way into the story, I switched over to audio— it was good but not my fave narration wise. I much rather enjoyed the ebook over audio but you can go either way, I just had a preference in who I wish would’ve narrated. 😅

This was a solid debut and I can’t wait to see what else Ariel does next! 💗

This was a beautifully written second chance love story and I enjoyed how the characters were the mirror each other needed to survive and succeed at a point in their life. Then the ending was a happy tear moment 🥹.

When I Think of You is a second chance at love story.

Kaliya is struggling to make it in the entertainment industry.
Danny reenters her life on a whirlwind. He turns everything upside down.

7 years after a tumultuous breakup, Danny and Kaliya are now entangled in business that takes them down memory lane. With unresolved feelings, they must navigate Hollywood politics while making a movie.

What did I like about the story.
- Once Kaliya realized that her dream doesn't have to be shaped like everyone else's, her whole trajectory changed.
- I'm happy with the direction of Bella. She could have been a much different character.

What I didn't like about the story.
- The indecisiveness of the characters. So happy when they actually communicated effectively.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkeley Pub for letting me enjoy this book early! I requested this book solely off the amazing cover, it’s so beautiful and gorgeous. This book didn’t disappoint I was hooked from the very beginning! This is a great debut novel! I really love second chance romance because it’s amazing to see the characters feel grow apart and come back together. I loved seeing a black woman in in film, it’s not something I’m used to reading in books! Something else I really enjoyed in the book was Kaliya did a lot of personal and professional growth, and really found her purpose in the end! The book felt short to me because I truly enjoy having dual POVs and not just one. I didn't feel like I could connect to Danny’s character. The pacing at the end went really fast which is a common theme in romance novels. Overall a great book and I’m excited for everyone to read this book!

Oooooh, I will be staying tuned on what Myah Ariel continues to write, because this second chance romance was everything I adore about the romance genre. I need more please!

Such a great debut novel! I was so happily surprised by how much i enjoyed this book. The writing felt strong, compelling and easy. The characters felt realistic and well-rounded, The story/plot was unique and had so much depth to it.

When I Think of You is such a fun second chance romance and a love story of two souls trying to find their way back to each other, but it is also so much more than that. Myah Ariel takes us through a journey of grief, self-discovery, ambition, the film industry and its frustrations. This book touches on the lack of diversity, sexism, misrepresentation and the struggle POC folks and women face not only in the industry but every. single. day. As a woman of color living in LA, i found myself getting emotional and relating to some of the situations and problems that Kaliya kept facing. Although i am not in the film industry, the struggles she continuously went through happen every day, in every field, all around the world. This book is so much more than just a romance and i was so invested in the overall story more than i was in the romantic aspect.

I loved the growth and character development that both Danny and Kaliya had, the way they understood each other and their love for one another despite all the years in between. The navigation of grief and self discovery was so healing and the friendships and side characters really added to the story. Such an amazing, well-written, beautiful debut novel! highly highly recommend.

read if you love: second chance, grief representation, celebrity romance, Hollywood setting, film/tv industry

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Pub for this ARC!

This book was an absolute delight. A second-chance romance set in Hollywood that touched on some heavy topics but was still beautiful, charming, fun, and heartwarming. I loved that we were able to see how much the character's had grown since they were first together, making their time apart make sense and the subsequent reunion mean even more. I would have loved to get Danny's POV as well just to be inside his head, but I also enjoyed the mystery of not getting the whole story about their past right away.

My only qualm with this one was how often Kaliya ignored Danny when he was very genuinely trying to work through issues or talk things out. The avoidance that was happening was at an all-time high and I feel like a lot of hurt feelings could have been avoided if they just had a conversation. All that said - I really enjoyed this book and had such a good time when reading it. Absolutely would recommend this one!

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for the eARC! All opinions are my own.

Unfortunately not for me. I did finish it, but I just did not vibe at all with the writing style. The idea of the story itself is great, I just wasn't the right person for how it was actually executed. Would still read this author again in the future!

WHEN I THINK OF YOU by Myah Ariel was a solid beautiful read about a second chance romance between two former college flames that haven’t spoken to each other over seven years. I was completely captivated by it from the first chapters. I loved the representation and important topics that were discussed in this book especially the process of grief. It was dealt incredibly well. I also enjoyed how the author explored the ins and outs of the Hollywood world specifically when it comes to black voices and characters not being supported or giving opportunities in the media world. I loved the characters in this book especially the romance and connection between Kaliya and Danny. You could feel the chemistry between them in their interactions together. Overall, so enjoyed the read. I’m looking forward to see what the author has in store

This was one of my most anticipated releases this year and I really enjoyed this debut by Myah Ariel! Kaliya and Danny were a lot of fun to read about and it was interesting finding out exactly what broke them up in the end. I feel as if Ariel did an expert job of balancing the romance with the more serious issues presented in this book. I can’t wait to read more by this author!

This a beautiful and emotionally heavy second chance romance. Kaliya and Danny felt like real, messy people trying to navigate the real, messy things of life and love. Loved how Kaliya realizes she has to put herself first and learn to take charge of her own life before she can share it with others, as well as the focus on diversity (or the lack thereof) and obstacles in Hollywood.

A beautiful second chance love story. And it did not read like a debut. Author Myah Ariel has a strong voice, and I look forward to more from her. I only wish this book could have been told in dual POVs - hearing Danny’s side of things would have heightened the story’s angst and urgency.

I received a copy of this book from Berkley.

This book was so wonderful! It swept me up and told the story of Kaliya and Danny so beautifully. It was emotional and heartful and also maddening at times. I love a second chance romance and this one delivered. There is so much history in a romance like this that lends the story so much richness.

This book is perfect. Five stars. Cannot hype it enough. The characters have so much depth, it is a little slow burn in the beginning when you want to know their history, but by the end you are sobbing at the self discovery and bad ass main character energy.