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!

Sweet,romantic and swoonworthy. A geeky heroine and a doll of a hero. Archer, Archer, Archer, you can come and live with me. A lovely slow burn romance where Miranda slowly and steadily navigates what and who she wants in her life. A feel good book.

#netgalley #MirandaInRetrograde

Oh how I've missed Lauren Layne books! I can always count on her books to just be a good read. Nothing too over the top, just good writing, good storyline, good characters. I really don't even know how to describe it, but she is definately an author I will purchase without even reading the summary first. I buy 100% based on her and her writing.
This can reach a range of ages and reading likes- romance but also woman's fiction/literary fiction. Lighter read, so can read when tired or life is just a bit too crazy. Definately recommend, you won't be disappointed.

I can always count on Lauren Layne to bring me out of a reading slump. Miranda in Retrograde was no different with characters you will fall in love with, dialogue that will make you laugh and a love story that will have you rooting for the characters.

Miranda is denied tenure and is forced out on a year long sabbatical in which she decides to reinvent herself by following her horoscope. Her plans are quickly complicated by her neighbor who does not believe in looking to the stars for direction. A quick read that also packs a punch, Miranda in Retrograde is the book every Lauren Layne fans expects to read from her.

I loved this book! I've seen so many people say they're not into astrology and while I'm nowhere near an expert, I've always believed mine to be true and accurate when it comes to describing me. I thought it was such a unique concept for a book and I loved that it was the impetus for Miranda to go on a personal journey that while having unintended effects still led her to where she was meant to be. The chemistry between Miranda and Archer was amazing. Despite this being a slow burn, I could feel their connection pretty quickly and was waiting with bated breath for them to get together. Lauren dropped so many good touchstones to let the reader know that Archer was into Miranda even if she herself didn't realize it. This book also had me laughing out loud a few times. The wait for them to get together combined with Archer's surliness created some great tension that I always love in books. And the reveal with the art and the proposal (my favorite way to say it) in the epilogue. SWOON. All this to say I loved it. So much so that I am planning to buy a physical copy.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

Absolutely adorable. I've read Lauren Layne before and enjoyed her, and this was not exception. There were no spicy parts like some of her books, so I can suggest it for many adult (and possibly teen) readers. There was nothing new in it (main character's life doesn't go the way she expected, so she decides to change it and the grumpy next door neighbor plays a big part in her life), but I thought it was well executed and written.

What an absolutely delightful book! I have been a LL fan for years- I've read almost her entire backlist (it's a lot of books y'all!), but her most recent books have been some of my absolute favorites. Miranda in Retrograde did NOT disappoint!

I've said it before and I'll say it again- no one does New York Romance better than LL. Her stories paint the city in the most magical light, and her characters always have the best banter and chemistry. This book was everything I was hoping it would be. I loved Miranda- she's quirky, intelligent, and trying her best to live outside of her comfort zone. Archer was the perfect compliment to her- effortlessly cool, a little grumpy, and creative. I loved how their relationship grew over time, starting not quite as enemies, but not exactly friends, to trusted companions. It was a slow burn, but it worked so perfectly for them.

I mean in all honesty, I'm probably not going to be living my life based on decisions made for me by the stars anytime soon, but it worked out for Miranda, so who knows- should I try it?! This cute, quirky romance will be a favorite for so many, and I definitely think it should be on your radar!

In this charming, starry-eyed romance, Miranda, a driven astrology professor, faces an unexpected sabbatical after being denied tenure. Seeking solace and a change of pace, she moves into her aunt’s Manhattan townhouse and vows to let the stars guide her decisions. Her journey of self-discovery is both heartwarming and humorous, particularly as she navigates her budding relationship with her grumpy but endearing artist neighbor, Archer. The chemistry between Miranda and Archer is delightful, filled with witty banter and a slow-burn romance that will keep readers smiling. The story is enhanced by its unique structure, with chapters aligned to zodiac seasons and horoscopes, making it a fun and engaging read for fans of feel-good, opposites-attract romances.