Miranda Reed is an astrophysicist at Nova University and up for tenure. Her perfectly structured life indicates that getting tenure should be a no brainer. When Miranda is denied tenure because of her celebrity status she is thrown for a loop. The university strongly suggests that she takes a year long sabbatical so Miranda heads to the place that has always given her comfort, her Aunt Lillian's townhouse in Hudson Heights. Her best friend Daphne and her Aunt Lillian explain to her that she has run her life by rigid rules and maybe she needs to approach life a different way. They suggest spending her time off by letting her astrological horoscope guide her....reluctantly she agrees. While living at Aunt Lillian's townhouse she meets her next door neighbor Simon Archer, a famous, reclusive artist who is as mysterious as he is gorgeous. They spend many nights together up on the roof of their townhouses talking. In the meantime Miranda is shocked when one of her horoscopes actually happens and she meets Christian Hughes a single, gorgeous guy who has a 9 yr old daughter, Kylee who is interested in the stars. Miranda ends up tutoring Kylee, while getting to know Christian. Miranda ends up finding out that Christian is a perfect match for her according to the stars and they start dating. Everything is going pleasantly, but Miranda finds herself drawn to Archer. When the possibility of a position at another university happens, Miranda must decide between the old, predictable life she has always known, or throw caution to the wind to the life her heart is reaching for. In the end, her entire life is changed around and her heart wins.

I just adored this fun, entertaining sweet romance. I loved how astrology was inter-weaved into everything. All of the characters were fun and I could not put this book down. I am glad how this book ended....it was perfection!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 ⭐️

This was such a fun read! I really enjoyed the unique premise and was invested from the very beginning. Cute, no spice, romance with all the angst and feels you’re looking for! Definitely a page turner that will keep you up past your bedtime!

I genuinely enjoyed everything about this book. It was so cute. Archer was the perfect broody next-door neighbor and Miranda was the lovable, intelligent, yet clueless (when it came to Archer) main character. How can a nickname like “Randy” come off as swoony and sweet? I’m really not sure the answer to that, but the author pulled it off and made me fall in love with their story. My only critique is that I wish we were able to see them together for longer, but I 10/10 recommend this book!

It’s not that predictable can’t be enjoyable but in this case that’s what happened. As soon as the book started I knew where we were headed and the ride just wasn’t that exciting.

Miranda in Retrograde, by Lauren Layne, is classic LL- fun, fabulous, flirty banter, tons of heart, and absolutely enjoyable from start to finish. I also feel like she stepped up her game with this book- classic LL and yet also deeper and smarter and just somehow more. Longtime fans will be completely satisfied and I bet she will get a whole new wave of readers too. Miranda & Asher are chef's-kiss delicious!!! Highly recommend!!!

4/5⭐️

this was such a cute cozy book!!

after being denied tenure, “Dr. Miranda Reed, PHD,” decides to take a sabbatical and delves into the world of astrology. she moves into her aunt’s old place and meets her neighbor, a grumpy reclusive artist.

!!!

the grumpy skeptical artist and the astrology following physicist!!!

one thing about lauren layne is she KNOWS how to write great banter and even better chemistry!

this was just such a fun feel-good book and i LOVE LOVE LOVEDD archer and miranda!


thank you netgalley for the ARC!

This was my first book by this author and I enjoyed it. The plot was great, I enjoyed the characters and the book was very easy to get into.

This quirky, and cute romance has me smiling like a lunatic! I love Lauren Layne books because they always seem to hit all the right emotions. This story has me feeling refreshed and giddy because Miranda and Archer were perfection!

Miranda and Archer have a hilarious non meet cute that leads into a very tumultuous but hilarious friendship. As Miranda tries to figure out her next step in life, her friendship with her broody artist neighbor starts to take on something more, but neither is ready to lay it all on the line!

The ending of this book reminded me and solidified my love for Lauren Layne books. She really set things in motion that I did not anticipate and omg I love Archer and his love for Miranda. This story is beautifully written and has a stellar cast of characters!

Chance to re-examine life choices
When Dr. Miranda Reed gets passed over for tenure, of course she's very upset. The university offers her a year sabbatical and then a lecturer position. She goes to her Aunt's home to reflect on her life. Her Aunt and best friend talk Miranda into not thinking about science and follow her horoscope for the year. Miranda is intrigued enough to try it. Her has her stay at her house to take care of her plants while she's traveling. Miranda meets the next door neighbor, Archer, up on the roof while watering the plants. They strike up a tenuous friendship. Archer is an artist but won't let Miranda (or Randy as he calls her) to see any of his work. Miranda has met Christian when he saved her from being struck by a vehicle. He asks her to tutor his daughter in astronomy. Miranda does Christian's chart and they are a real match. Archer is annoyed by this since she's relying on astrology. During this year of sabbatical, Miranda finds out a lot about herself. Will she rely on astrology or her heart? I really liked this book especially reading Lauren Layne's note at the end about the research she did in order to make the book accurate. I asked for an early copy from Netgalley to read and review. I'm leaving my honest review.

I've read a couple of books by Lauren Layne and so far I've found her stories charming and captivating, this book wasn't the exception! The story flows really easily, the characters are interesting and the plot is great!

Overall a very recommend read ;)

Miranda in Retrograde is utterly and completely charming. From start to finish, I was entirely invested in Miranda's journey after she's denied tenure and takes a sabbatical to discover what it is she really wants from life. When she bumps into (and subsequently annoys) the grumpy, reclusive next door neighbor, they form a tentative truce. Between horoscopes, gardening, and soul searching, I fell completely in love with Miranda!

*Steamy kisses only; mild language

Thank you to Netgalley for my complimentary e-arc. All opinions here are my own.

A cute fast paced romance contemporary book. I enjoyed the writing and the characters. The plot itself was appealing and I’m glad it lived up to my expectations. Without a doubt, I would recommend to anyone who wants to read a cute story.

Lauren Layne is a new author to me and “Miranda in Retrograde” was a sweet surprise. The story is a quick, easy to read, slow burn.

The reader is invited into Miranda‘s life as she goes on a journey of self discovery after a life/career changing event. Miranda has a run-in with Archer, one of her neighbors. Miranda and Archer have great witty banter. It was fun reading as Miranda navigated life and tried to decide if the path she was on was the one she wanted, or the one she was expected to follow.

Thanks NetGalley and Gallery Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I LOVED Emergency Contact by Lauren Layne, so this was a fast REQUEST for me on netgalley!
As always, Lauren delivers with all the things - i really enjoyed Miranda in retrograde as well.
This is such a fun, sweet and unique book! I absolutely loved the two main characters, Miranda and Archer. The banter, quirks and thoughtfulness made for such a lovable story! I read this one in 24 hours and highly recommend it for anyone looking for a heartwarming and sweet romance without all the fluff! I also really enjoyed all the information on astrology and horoscopes and the way it was woven perfectly into this story!

Fun easy read about a science focused PhD using astrology to guide her life after things don't go as planned. I really enjoyed this story and the main characters and felt invested in what happened to them. Perfect summer beach read would absolutely recommend. I want to thank NetGalley and Gallery Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the advanced reader copy.

This was another easy, enjoyable read by Lauren Layne. I enjoyed the addition of a very straightforward STEM-focused main character using astrology to guide her (love) life.

Lauren Layne never disappoints! Oh my did I love this absolutely sweet romance! I will be recommending it to everyone!

Dr. Miranda Reed is a hotshot young physics professor on track for tenure. When she is denied tenure, her perfectly planned life veers off track. She decides to take a sabbatical, and she is encouraged to spend some time looking into something she has never put any faith in: astrology.

What happens next is a year where Miranda follows her daily horoscope to “live outside of the box” if you will. She encounters new people and tries to make some positive changes in her life. But sometimes your horoscope can lead you in unexpected directions.

To say that I love Miranda would be an understatement. She is a smart, kind, and thoughtful character. I truly enjoyed being a part of her journey. Her neighbor Archer, her Aunt Lillian, and her friend Daphne are fantastic characters! I have so much to say, but I’m afraid to give anything away. If you are looking for a sweet, fun, romantic story, this is for you. And the ending is absolutely (I’m swooning!) perfect!

Also, each chapter starts with a horoscope. I loved this! It was not only the guiding point for each chapter, but then the reader gets to see how Miranda chooses to interpret each one. This was such a unique concept!

This was not my first book by Lauren Layne - I love her books! This one is now right at the top as my favorite. It is the perfect summer read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the opportunity to read this incredible book! It releases on August 13th. I highly recommend it! Preorder it now!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book, all thoughts are my own. I LOVED this book. Miranda gets denied tenure so she decides to take a break and stay at her aunts home which means taking care of her aunts plants - who the aunt moved onto the roof. Enters Archer a brooding artist nextdoor who also spends a lot of time on his roof. Soon Archer (who calls her Randy) - are bantering about horoscopes, signs and all. Absolutely a delightful read that needed to go on for about another 100+ pages. Loved everything and all of the characters of this book.

Another excellent read from Ms. Layne!!! Bravo!!!

I have been a huge fan of Lauren Layne for years, and while I adore her Manhattan-based, cream-of-society romances, I've also enjoyed the few novels she's written that step out of that "Sex in the City" vibe. Miranda in Retrograde is one of those unicorns, and I loved it. I'm also in awe of how much the author invested in mastering the definitely-not-science-but-still-fascinating field of astrology, and my appreciation grew when I read the author's note at the end of the book detailing her study. But that note came after the deliciously satisfying end of the story. Miranda's a scientific genius, but she's also gifted with personality, good looks, and charm, a combination that makes her irresistible to the media and less so to her stuffy academic colleagues. And so she's denied tenure, and in despair, she accepts a challenge to devote a year to NON science, i.e. astrology. Throw in a quirky aunt, a best friend we'd all love to have, and a love story as determined to grow as the dubious plants on Aunt Lillian's roof, and you've got a wonderful book I'm already looking forward to rereading. And Lauren, if you read this, will you do my horoscope, please?!

Dr. Miranda Reed is a wunderkind – with an IQ of 170 and a family of overachievers as role models – her life is highlighted by her scientific achievements and modest celebrity status at the expense of a rich personal life. When she receives the shocking news that she has been denied tenure at her prestigious university, Miranda takes a “voluntary” sabbatical and decides to pursue a topic that is the antithesis of her scientific endeavors. Thus the “Horoscope Project” is born with her commitment to study and follow the guidance of the stars. Over the course of eight months, Miranda reevaluates her goals and her values to choose a more authentic future.

The characters were engaging and likeable and the storyline well-paced. While the outcome was predictable, it was satisfying and concluded with a “feel-good” ending. Overall, this was an enjoyable, fun read.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.