This book!!! I absolutely adored Ellie & Rafael’s story!

- billionaire
- grumpy/sunshine
- age gap
- single dad/nanny
- slow burn

The tension in this book was unreal. Every interaction between these two had me squealing and wanting more. Rafael’s backstory was so sad and I loved his development in this book. Ellie also grew into herself and they both seemed to help one another. I could not out this book down and highly recommend this book and series!

4.5!

This was so so good! I love the Lakefront Billionaires series so much - there is a heavy heap of love in every couple and so much tension I could explode. I love how LA portrayed Rafa’s struggles, and the commentary on men’s mental health.

The only reason this isn’t a 5 stars is bc there were some loose ends, and a lack of conflict.

4.5 I really genuinely loved this reading this. It’s a total slow burn, but I just adored Rafael & Ellie. I liked the whole music storyline intertwined and am super intrigued by Cole? Like will we see him again? With being over 600 pages, it’s a long but I honestly had the best time reading it.

How can I put into words how proud I am of Lauren Asher? She puts her ALL into each book and I’m amazed each time!

Rafa & Ellie’s story is truly special! Lauren touched on so many sensitive topics in the most graceful way 🥹
She has such a gift and it’s been the best to see everyone’s reactions so far 🤍

Nico is hands down my favorite kid in a romance book EVERRRRR 🩷 ICYMI I said he reminded me of Miguel from Coco 😭
So pure and he must be protected at all costs 😭 the real star of the show!

I told Lauren you have to be DTC™️, down to cry, to read LU 😂

This book will always hold a special place in my heart 😭🥹🩷💕

I think that this book did an amazing job showing how previous trauma can really affect your everyday life. Rafa and Ellie both had really tough childhoods that made it hard for them to accept the fact that they can love and be loved unconditionally by another person. Their trust issues were IMMENSE, but also well-warranted. I want to send everyone who did both of them wrong into shark-infested waters!!!

This book really pulled on my heartstrings. Not only because of the trauma that Rafa and Ellie endured, but for my sweet baby, Nico, as well. I wanted to give them all a big hug!!!

For me, this book was maybe a bit longer than it needed to be. I feel like I really enjoyed the beginning and the story seemed to be developing quickly, but then it started feeling a bit repetitive and dragging a bit.

However, this book had AMAZING quotes that will stick with me forever, and I still recommend it! Nanny x single dad trope is ALWAYS a hit.

lauren entering her single dad era is my favorite. i love that ellie already fits so seamlessly into their lives, and her bond with nico is so sweet. she's the perfect balance in rafa and nico's life and watching her interactions with both of them is really special.

rafa often feels like such an outsider in his son's life, never knowing if he's doing the right thing and ellie helps him see just how good of a dad he is. ellie sees him for who he is and his heart.

this had all the slow burn and tension that i just love in a book. the way they both had feelings for each other but didn't want to rush things. they both had things they needed to work on for themselves and they gave each other the grace to do that while navigating ellie being more than a nanny.

i loved their growth. both had some traumas that they never fully dealt with. rafa wanted nothing more than to give ellie everything she wanted and to do everything he could to make her happy. ellie was the bright spot in rafa and nico's lives, she gave so much of herself to them and was always there for them.

this book was everything

I am always interested and excited for a new Lauren Asher release and Love Unwritten is no exception. I had a great time reading Love Redesigned and was excited to dive back into the Lake Wisteria scene!
Unfortunately, book two in the Lakefront Billionaires series fell a bit flat for me.
Asher definitely tackles some heavier topics in Love Unwritten, reminding me of Final Offer in the Dreamland Billionaires series. Self-harm, grief, betrayal, and sexual assault are all discussed throughout this book. I applaud Asher for including these sensitive subjects in her work and taking care while doing so. Unfortunately, I struggled with character motivations with regards to working through/moving beyond past trauma. Character growth is essential to an effective story, but I struggle when characters seem more focused on changing for each other than for themselves. I did appreciate the detail that went into describing how our female main character healed/is healing from her past and learned healthy coping mechanisms, I just wanted the same for our male main character.
There were a few aspects of this story that I think Asher did wonderfully with: The child featured throughout this story is absolutely adorable and such a great inclusion to the story.
And the tension between our main characters? Chef’s kiss! For the first third/half of the story the slowly building tension between our main characters was palpable and really added to the story. Asher did such a great job with the build-up of this aspect of their relationship.
While this isn’t a favorite, I would definitely still recommend Love Unwritten and the Lakefront Billionaires series as a whole! I also can’t wait to see whose story is coming next!

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Yet another hit from Lauren Asher 💗

I’m definitely in the minority when I say that single dad romances aren’t always my favorite. But I had a feeling that Lauren would do this book justice, and I was totally right!

Ellie & Rafael had such a uniquely beautiful connection. Alongside the romance, their story also navigated their raw mental health journeys, illustrated the painful messiness of being affected by one’s past and insecurities, and showed that you can find strength in vulnerability, especially with the right people in your life. My heart hurt so much for all that they’ve been through, so I loved witnessing their amazing individual and couple growth, as well as seeing them become each other’s safe places to land. Ellie has the most strong and beautiful heart, and Rafael is a grump who’s secretly very soft for the people he loves — watching Ellie become one of those people was absolutely everything 🥹

I also can’t forget about little Nico! In between all his moments, from his playful matchmaking to his times of struggle, he really stole my heart. The relationship he had with his dad and the bond that he shared with Ellie tugged on my heartstrings and made this book that much more special.

If you can’t tell, I adored this book! I already miss these characters with my whole heart and am counting down the days until my next Lake Wisteria visit so I can see everyone again — it’s truly such a wonderful place to be 🫶

Lauren has done it again!!!!! I was so excited for a single dad x nanny book and she delivered. I laughed. I cried. I loved it so much.

The perfect follow up to Love Redesigned!

I continue to be pleasantly surprised by Lauren Asher. I think I just need to admit that I am now a fan. I may have gotten off to a bad start with a few of her books, but the Lakefront Billionaires have been the series for me.

I just really connected with Rafael and Ellie. They had this push and pull that tugged me in close. They were messy and tough on each other but they both loved Nico SO much. It was impossible not to swoon for them. Nico is slowly losing his sight and the way Rafa and Elle work so hard to make him feel supported and loved... I was such a goner.

I'm already a big fan of a Single Dad and a Nanny romance. Add in that the dad is extra grumpy and even feels a little jealous of how much his kid loves said nanny.. I was not expecting that take on it. However, I find it very clever because, of course he would covet all the time he can get with Nico. As all the time is precious.

As we start to peel back the layers of Rafael, what becomes clear is HOW much he feels. He has always tried to keep it in and he has issues that you wouldn't expect. The way he reacts to certain situations... it broke my heart. Ellie really has her work cut out for her and the way he lashes out, multiple times, it pushed me right to the edge.

But then... he says some of the most beautiful things.

"Ellie Sinclair has always been pretty, but right now, she looks absolutely gorgeous in a floor-length gauzy white dress that highlights her soft curves and sun-kissed skin. I can only think of one word to describe her and it's ethereal. I become a man fighting against the clock, trying to take in as many details as possible before she notices me staring at her like she is mine."

I'm sorry but... that is some swoony sh*t. With so many MMCs noticing the FMCs tits and ass before anything else... i just find the simple romance of this to be completely endearing. The way Rafael was always fighting his feelings as they draw closer and closer... it was beautiful.

Ellie.. well, she was a gem. The way she loved Nico and the way she slowly draws Rafael into love... the way she was rediscovering her song writing talent... the way she persevered and learned to stand up for herself... She was a girl crush for sure.

This was a very slow burn, maybe Lauren Asher's longest burn yet, however, it felt so true to the characters and it let them breathe and draw close to each other in a natural way. It also kept Nico as the center and that felt so important.

I highly recommend this series and while you can jump right into this one, I do think you should start with Love Redesigned and enjoy them both.

5 stars
2.5 on the spice scale

CW: mentions of previous self-harm (cutting), parental abandonment, parental neglect, degenerative eye condition, childhood food insecurity, compulsive eating.

Rafa is a grumpy single dad and Ellie is the nanny to his adorable son Nico. All three characters were equally important and that made this book shine for me. I can't imagine Rafa or Ellie being paired with anyone else. I adored the slow burn romance and tension between them. But also the tender moments they shared, especially after learning about each other's insecurities.

The bond between Ellie and Nico was so sweet. She was nurturing and selfless in the way she treated him. Rafa had to work at his relationship with his son as they were going through a rough patch. But taking a trip to Hawaii was exactly what they needed.

In addition to the romance there was so much depth which is what made this book incredible. All three characters had some trauma from their past or present that tugged at my heartstrings. It felt like the three of them were meant to be a family and grow together.

another lauren asher banger! this was a highly anticipated read after all the rafa & ellie moments in book 1, and it absolutely delivered. i always love a single dad / nanny romance, but this felt more unique than most others i’ve read! when the book begins, ellie has already been the nanny for a while and has such an established, sweet relationship with nico. i loved that we got to immediately jump into that dynamic where there was already a history. ellie & nico’s relationship is beyond adorable, and it’s easy to see why rafa struggled with feeling like an outsider with his own son. rafa has such a guard up and i loved watching it slowly come down throughout the book. ellie has been through it, and you just wanna wrap her in the biggest hug. she has the biggest heart but isn’t afraid to stand up for herself now despite all she’s been through.

given that ellie & rafa already have an established boss/employee relationship when the book starts, i was curious to see what their romantic relationship development would look like and i just loved it all. despite the obvious attraction between them early in the book, this was such a good slow burn. it felt so realistic for two characters who had both been through a lot and who didn’t want to rush into anything. they kinda learned together to communicate and overcome their insecurities and it was just a joy to read! rafa being so grumpy and standoffish while all along he had been mentally taking note of ellie’s every like and dislike, and he would do anythinggggg to make her happy (like charter an entire ship just so she doesn’t have to deal with airplane anxiety). this series has been so amazing and i can’t wait to see what’s next!

She's a musician who has had her music stolen and is now a nanny to her high school crush and he's the grumpy billionaire who is dealing with the fall out of his divorce and trying to connect with his son and definitely trying to not fall for his nanny. Ellie Sinclair is a songwriter, she loves music... only her ex best friend stole all her songs and became famous and now Ellie is dealing with trying to figure out how to get her songs back. Ellie also works as a nanny to a very grumpy single billionaire... who just happens to be her old highschool crush, Rafael Lopez. While Rafael might be handsome and rich, what he isn't is the nicest or most appreciative. Ellie loves Nico, Rafael's son, and she adores spending time with him, too bad his father makes it a bit harder to be around. Rafael is a workaholic who is struggling with the fall out of the divorce to his ex wife who not only cheated on him but refuses to see their son and demands spousal support, it definitely does not help his trust issues. Rafael wants one thing more than anything, to connect with his son... who only seems to want to hang out with the nanny. Rafael knows he shouldn't fall for his nanny, but temptation becomes harder to resist when they all go on a vacation together and Rafael is forced to finally face the fact that he might be in love with Ellie. Can two people who have had to deal with their trust being broken by others, trust one another with their hearts or is the damage too great? This was such a fun read, I absolutely adored Nico with all my heart. I think that the romance between Ellie and Rafael was really well done. They are two people who have both dealt with so much and yet have found a way to open up to one another and let each other in. The pacing of the story was great and the romance was just so much fun to read. I would absolutely recommend this book (it is the second in a series however you can read it as a standalone!). If you love romance, found family, and a bit of steam, absolutely give this book a go!

Release Date: June 18,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books | Bloom Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

4.5⭐️
I have read every single one of Lauren Asher’s book and this one has made its way to my top three!💗 Rafe and Ellie’s story was just so good and heartfelt- it had me tearing up more than once🥹 I’m still new to the sub genre of Single dad romances but I’ve learned that I’m a sucker for the Single Dad x Nanny trope, and this book did it so well!! Rafe was a grumpy broken man who wasn’t really living due to his past traumas and seeing him heal and move on with Ellie’s care and love was just so freaking sweet. I wouldn’t say this is the typical Grumpy x Sunshine type book, because Ellie definitely had her own demons to face, but that made it even better because you got to see them heal together through their relationship. I also loved seeing Nico & his interactions with both Ellie and his dad- he was the true sunshine in this book and his meddling with Ellie and Rafe’s relationship was iconic! We also got so many good cameos from Dahlia and Julian, as well as a sneak peek into Lorenzo and Lily’s relationship- which I’m so freaking excited for! I mean one of my fave LA books is Terms and Conditions so seeing that she’s writing another fake engagement situation is literally what dreams are made of🤩 Overall Lauren Asher can do no wrong and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t squeal when I got approved for this ARC!

Lauren has done it again!!! Love Unwritten is the perfect single dad/nanny, grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity summer romance. Rafael and Elle are so perfect together and I appreciate how their relationship requires some emotional heavy lifting on both their parts so they can be the best versions of themselves for each other (and Nico of course). I can't recommend this enough!

Lauren Asher, you gave me a book that I can read again and again and shed happy tears 😭💖 each time.

The way she pictures each character and the vision of life from her eyes is something I can easily relate to, each and every time!!

This time too SHE DID IT *AGAIN*..!!

Rafael had caught my attention from book 1 as a very loving and caring dad and Nico ❤️ omg that boy is my most cutest and favourite cupid of all time!!

And with then comes Ellie in this book 🤌✨💫 and the picture is perfect!! The way they blend in together even with the bitterness of past is beautiful ❤️ the way they know each other and understand that shows how deep the roots of their bond is and it's the cherry on the cake of this book.

Each character has its own demon to fight yet the way Lauren leaves in the positiveness is something I crave for and she delivered it right!!!

This time I cried so hard! Got so emotional reading this 🥺😭🤧 I loved the way writing was a little different as the characters were emotionally mature in this and it did make sense totally ❤️😌

I believe this will my 2024's best 5 stars read!!!

4.25 stars
Huge thank you to sourcebooks /bloom books for the advanced reader copy!
This is one of my most anticipated releases of the year and Lauren Asher just kills it every time. I absolutely love the single parent x nanny trope and the learning to communicate in a healthy way HITS. The only reason this book isn’t rated higher for me is personally I am not the biggest fan of music/musician/performer storylines (but again that is a me thing, so please check this one out!)

Also Lauren has me PUMPED for book 3! I’m already manifesting that it’s going to be my overall favorite!

Will def have more thoughts on release day!

This was possibly Lauren Asher's best book yet. I loved these characters, I loved their connection, and I especially loved Nico, Rafael's son. I absolutely devoured this book and I cannot wait for the future books in this series.

An unforgettable love story that truly will have no end!

tropes: single dad x nanny

rafa and ellie share one of the most special loves i’ve ever read about. they are two characters that have heartbreaking back stories that come together and love each other for all of their imperfections. their love is so so beautiful and so real. telling someone you love them is obviously very important, but ellie and rafa show how much they love each other through their actions which is often overlooked, but equally as significant.

now we can’t forget about nico! if ellie and rafa own my soul, nico will always have my heart. sometimes in single parent books the kids get lost in the story or don’t have the largest backstory, but that is not the case in this book. nico is just as important as rafa and ellie and i was rooting for his complete and utter happiness just like i was for the couple.

if i wasn’t clear enough READ IT

thank you vpr, bloom, and lauren for this arc

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! A well-executed single dad/nanny story featuring two characters whose friendship bloomed into a romance and they both had such lovely feelings for one another!! I thought this was well done and so far, my favorite of her Lakefront books!