Lauren Layne has been my go to author for years and Miranda In Retrograde proves why she’s one of the best in the romance genre. Miranda and Archer intrigued me right from the jump. Their chemistry was visible and I loved every scene between these two. I found Miranda to be such a relatable character and she was well developed.

I apologize for the extremely late review, I thought I sent this months ago. Whoops!!!

LOVE all things Lauren Layne writes, and Miranda in Retrograde is no exception! What a fun, fresh story. I felt for Miranda and was rooting for her, and love, love, loved the character ARC and getting her happy ending. 5/5 stars.

***ARC Provided by the Publisher via NetGalley***

I love books by this author and, I can't lie, I was excited to see a new title from her.

Miranda didn't disappoint. I loved the story, I loved the way it evolved, and I loved the writing (which is one of my favorite things about Ms. Layne's books) and I loved that this book was just enjoyable from beginning to end.

I enjoyed and recommend this title.

This was a cute story. The characters and plot were very enjoyable. I gave this book a 4 stars. I would recommend reading this.

This was a cute romcom! It was a little out of my comfort zone, I’m not super into astrology, but it was still fun! I enjoyed the banter and the overall plot, there’s just a couple things that bumped it down in rating for me.

I rvcd an eARC from Netgalley. All thoughts are my own.

HUGE Lauren Layne fan here, and this story did not disappoint! I loved the meet cute, even tho it was less than cute. Archer's nickname was Miranda would have grated on my nerves if it were me haha! I found myself growing increasingly annoyed with Archer's dismissal of Miranda, but I know that was all part of it. The way they slowly go to know each other was sweet - and as Archer opened up, little by little, it became apparent that he was head over heels. Miranda was so dense haha

I got a kick out of the chapter headers being Miranda's horoscope, and watching her perfectly folded and creased life getting a little messy as she got out of her comfort zone. As she moves into the dating world (not with Archer), she lets the stars guide her. But of course, those stars lead her to Archer.

if you know me even a little bit, you’re aware of my big obsession with lauren layne’s stories. with that said, i’m very glad to say this one was quickly added into my long list of LL’s gems.

from the very first page to the very end, i couldn’t help but being hooked into miranda and archer’s journey. it was funny, emotional, inspirational, swoon-worthy…

as i was reading, i caught myself thinking that miranda in retrograde gave me the feeling of eating comfort food in my bed on a weekend. and just like when monday comes, as i reached the final chapter i couldn’t help the bittersweet feeling taking over. i could use a 100 more pages of this story!

as a libra myself, i say that i can be really indecisive, but i am 100% sure i’ll be visiting these characters in the future again and again for a reread.

I like Lauren Layne as an author but as a female in STE(A)M I am honestly tired of the trope of women getting passed over for tenure and then making somewhat asinine decisions based on that. Other than said mini-rant above which I thought made it hard to connect with the FMC, it is a sweet rom com and an easy read as you would expect from the author.

I read an advanced copy, the above are my own thoughts.

This was a cute story, but it didn't hit as "true love romance" as I wanted it to. It's great for those who love a good Hallmark romance, but the horoscope main story was a little too sweet for me.

In this fun and exciting opposites-attract modern romance novel, physics prodigy Miranda Reed has her life entirely planned out until she’s unexpectedly denied tenure and an all-but-guaranteed promotion. Forced onto sabbatical away from the university, Miranda looks to the stars and decides to take up astrology despite her skepticism towards the field as a way to cope with her shaken faith in science and in the precise planning she’s relied on. As she begins her year of life-by-horoscope, Miranda’s new life involves a pet, home improvement, and finding love -- just not with her grumpy artist neighbor, though the father of her new tutoring student might just be the One. Readers will join Miranda as she takes on life from a new perspective while reconsidering everything that has brought her to this point in this immersive and enjoyable new novel. Miranda is a fascinating and complicated protagonist whose struggles with self-image and lifetime benchmarks are incredibly relatable to many readers, and her two new relationships are completely different yet incredibly charming. A fun, emotional, and heartwarming modern romance novel, Miranda is a great modern protagonist looking to own and control her own life according to the stars in more ways than one.

This is my first Lauren Layne book and lets just say it won't be the last.

Archer and his witty come backs and the slow burn with Miranda was chefs kiss. I loved who they bantered each time and you could just feel the delcious tension. I loved that they pushed each other to want more from life. It was such a fun and easy romcom and defintiely a bit of enemies to lovers as well. I loved that Miranda was in STEM and had such a passion for it no matter what anyone else thought of it, she just had to find where she wanted to fit in. Archer is the perfect grump artist who down plays how amazing he is, his charm was everything, even if he did say little. I loved that it was astrology themed, something different than the typicals story lines. And that aunt of hers defintiely set this up, playing match maker from afar. love.

Thank you Gallery books and Netgalley for the eARC.

Miranda, a physics professor, has always loved her life by the book, making decisions with reason and logo. But when she’s passed over for tenure, her perfectly curated plan for her life is upended. She decides to try something new, and for a year lives her life according to her horoscope.
Miranda’s growth in this story was heartwarming. To see her open herself up to the unexpected and learn to trust herself and what she wants. I thought the horoscopes at the beginning of each chapter were a fun addition. This was a cute read!
Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Lauren Layne's books are always magical (and filled with gorgeous outfits!). If you love science, horoscopes and astrology paired with a dash of banter and romance, then this book is for you. Miranda and Archer's disdain turned friendship was fun to witness (although I ultimately kept seeing them as just friends, instead of hoping it would turn into more). Despite their natal charts showing their incompatibility, my heart swooned over their Christmas gift exchange.

Throw caution to the wind, read your horoscope and enjoy this book!

Miranda in Retrograde was an absolutely charming read that featured a woman in STEM. Another winner for Lauren Layne!

I love Lauren Layne and always feel so happy and good after reading her books. I liked that this one explored a woman with a career in STEM and felt like the relationship was very believable.

This book was whimsical, unique, and so stinking cute. I don’t know anything about astrology, but it added a unique touch to this sweet romcom that I really enjoyed. While I of course loved the romantic storyline, I also loved Miranda’s journey of self discovery. This was such a sweet, quick read that’s guaranteed to leave you smiling. I highly recommend it!

Miranda in Retrograde by Lauren Layne offers a delightful mix of slow-burn romance, humour, and self-discovery. As a fan of Layne's work, I was immediately drawn to Miranda, a quirky and intelligent physics professor who’s struggling to rebuild her life after facing setbacks in her career. Her journey is relatable and engaging, and Layne manages to capture the balance between vulnerability and strength in her character, making it easy to connect with Miranda.

One of my favourite aspects of Layne's writing is that she nails the romantic comedy genre. Although the romance between Miranda and Archer is super sweet, there is so much humour in their interactions that you can't help but feel giddy while reading their romance. Although the story is mostly closed-door in terms of intimacy, the connection between the two is evident. I also thought the astrology theme added a fresh twist to the narrative. If you're in the mood for a feel-good, charming romance that blends brains and banter with a touch of cosmic influence, this one is a perfect pick.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Gallery Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

"Miranda in Retrograde" is such a charming read! It’s like a delightful mix of love, laughs, and a sprinkle of cosmic chaos. The main character’s journey through heartbreak and self-discovery is super relatable and totally engaging. You’ll find yourself giggling one moment and feeling all the feels the next. The writing is light and fun, making it easy to dive right in and connect with the characters. If you’re into quirky romances with a dash of astrological flair, this book is a cozy treat you won't want to miss!

When I heard Lauren Layne is releasing a book? You run! And so I did and I m glad I did. The love I have for this author is unmatched maybe only by Julie james? The sex, love, Stiletto series is my baby! It was life! I cannot describe that enough. It's just that her writing style is so freaking unique and I just love it! I have nothing else to say except this is Lauren Layne and you should read this book!

Title: Miranda in Retrograde
Author: Lauren Layne
Length: 288
Format: ebook arc
Pub Date: Aug 13 2024
Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Romance | Women's Fiction
Rating Out of 5: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Spice Level: closed door
Summary:
Miranda Reed, the youngest physics professor at her university, has her life upended when she's denied tenure. Disillusioned, she turns to astrology—something she's always dismissed—to make sense of it all. Over the course of a year, guided by horoscopes, she embarks on new adventures and navigates potential romance. As she explores both science and the stars, Miranda learns that neither offers all the answers, and sometimes, you just have to trust your heart.

Thoughts:
This book was an absolute delight, a charming blend of romance and self discovery! It's like if a Katherine Center book and an Ali Hazelwood book had a baby, and voilà—you’ve got this little gem. The women in STEM representation had me hooked, and the grumpy/sunshine trope? Classic. But it’s the *friends to lovers* that really hit the sweet spot. Even the little love triangle—which usually makes me roll my eyes—was surprisingly palatable. Apart from the romance aspect of this book, it was also enjoyable delving into the horoscope project with Miranda, and it made me want to learn more about astrology just for funsies.

Special thanks to the @netgalley and @gallerybooks for the arc in exchange for my honest review!