Pick-up was such a fun story to read! The 3 POVs compared to a romance’s typical 2 was also a new twist that I really enjoyed.

The single parent enemies to lovers trope was done really well and I loved the tropical island trip setting and the twist involved. I don’t see a huge amount of twists in romance that don’t dramatize the story in an unnecessary way but this one added another layer to the story that made it stand out amongst a heavily saturated genre.

Thank you to netgalley for this arc!

I loved Pick-Up! I read the entire book in less than a day because I couldn’t put it down. It was funny, romantic, clever, and relatable. While I’m not a divorced parent, I am a mother of two children and I certainly could relate to the difficulties that parenting can bring. This book was spot on with all the realities of school, parenting, and school pick-ups. But mostly, I loved the romance of Ethan and Sasha. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this great book.

I DNF this book around 10%. The way the book was written with the super short chapters just didn't keep my attention. It felt like the story was bouncing around too much which ultimately made me not want to continue.

Such a cute read! Relatable to parents so I definitely relate to it. I think it connects to that effect and it was very witty and had its own charm.

I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s quick-witted tone. I caught myself laughing out loud several times. This is an entertaining read with high-chemistry enemies-to-lovers themes blended with the challenges of divorced parenting. Well written, funny, entertaining and memorable.

A witty rom com between enemies to lovers.
Sasha and Ethan are each divorced and navigating parenthood when they have some unpleasant encounters with each other at the school. Their story unfolds as they end up on a work trip together. It was refreshing to read about experiences parents actually struggle with, such as childcare and aging parents, making this book relatable for adults.
Pick Up has some laugh out loud moments, delightful banter and a twist with third POV. Overall this was a fun and refreshing read.

This book for the first 50 pages confused me. It kept changing povs to people who never became super important again and I also for a while couldn't figure out what's going on because of all the switches.

This was a cute book with a style of writing i havent seen bedore. The book as a third person POV through multiple different characters. Took me a litlle longer to get in to and I wasn’t as hooked as I am with some books but I could see this being a fan favorite for a lot of people - especially those who are single parents!

I thought this book was written so interestingly! I honestly didn't want to put it down because I couldn't figure out why there were three POV and I honestly should have seen it coming but I did not! Sasha and Ethan are divorced parents that have a few run ins while they are trying to do things for their kids. They see each other at pick up/drop off, but it isn't until Ethan is there taking the last sweatshirt or the last spot in drama class for his kid that Sasha really starts to take notice, and not in a good way.
Ethan doesn't mean to be the bane of Sasha's existence and all he really wants is to get close to her. When a job comes up and they are forced to work together, on an island resort (WITH an outdoor shower!!!!!!) she starts understanding Ethan. Their attraction is instant, but will they be able to bring that magic back to the real world with kids and exes and life drama?
This was a real look at the struggles that parents go through daily and how some moms look so put together at pick up, but we are all really just trying to get through the day. Some hide it better than others.
Thanks to Gallery, Netgalley and Nora Dahlia for an early copy.

From what I understand Pick Up is author Nora Dahlia's first novel. Very well written. Extremely entertaining - I couldn't put it down! Laugh out loud! Not overly spicy at all. I've never read a book about divorced people and the mess that comes with it, but I could relate on the stress and mental load of being a mother. Looking forward to more from Nora!

Pick Up was such a pleasant surprise. I had heard nothing about it but am so glad it found me! It’s the story of a romance between two broken, discarded people, and the people that surround them. The author’s sense of humor is perfectly dry, and I laughed out loud many times. And yes, it is at its core a romance, but it raised a lot of philosophical questions for me. It addresses the difference in expectations for moms versus dads, the pressure that parents (especially moms) put on themselves to ensure their children’s happiness, and how marriage and raising a family can often make you lose sight of who you are. This is definitely an author to watch. Loved it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc.

“Turns out, parenting is hard.”

This enemies-to-lovers reflects on the twisty ways we try to understand ourselves and navigate parenthood with all the marriage/partnership, friendship, school communities and other messy logistics it comes with.

Come for the snappy dialogue, relatable school drop-off/pick up shenanigans and undeniable attraction tingles. Stay for the dreamy vacation spot, exploration of identity and gender roles and examples of trying to do better for yourself and your loved ones.

4.5 stars

I was impatient, so read an eARC via NetGalley. (Pub date 12/3/24)

This book was so funny and witty and wonderful. Their romance felt so sweet and authentic but grown up in a way that was appropriate for their story and circumstances. I loved all the characters. I loved the forced introspection the book gave me. A lovely read!

Unpopular opinion but I really enjoy a third person POV in romance!!! The stakes were higher than your typical romance and overall I loved it. Sweet, genuine and everything I want in a book.

Nora Dahlia managed to combine a humorous take on the parents you meet through your children’s school and a romance that feels both sweet and mature. I absolutely loved this book.

3.5⭐
1🌶️
Tropes- Enemies to lovers, forced proximity

Pick-up is an enemiesish to lovers story about three Brooklyn 40 something's divorcees, mainly Sasha and Evan, plus a third POV from Katelyn. Sasha is a mother of 2 who works as a for hire video producer and has a useless ex husband. Ethan, who only does drop-off with his daughter, works as an editor-in-chief for a magazine. The third POV is from Katelyn whose daughter attends the same school as the two other MCs, and seems to be obsessed with Sasha for some reason. She remains a largely unknown character until much later in the book. While you find out early on that Sasha and Ethan met several years ago, they "meet for the first time" during a few frustrating mishaps with the school, but most of the story takes place in Citrine Cay, a fictional island in The Caribbean.

I had a hard time getting into this book. The third POV really threw me off although I really enjoyed finding out her role at the end. I was also not a fan of Ethan having such short chapters because it felt like I never got to know him as a character- the bulk of the story was focused on Sasha. That may have been the point though- I just wasn't really a fan.
I also struggled to understand Sasha's character and relate to her. Normally I prefer books with late 30s early 40s MCs, but Sasha was frustratingly dramatic around Ethan while saying she's not normally like this. I couldn't decide if her ex husband Cliff had done such a number on her self-esteem to "make" her this way or if this was her real personality.

Despite my struggles with reading this, I think it was very well written and several parts stand out as hilarious and endearing- like when she realizes that Ethan works for Escapade when they arrive at Citrine Cay or Ethan's perpetual to-do lists. The innuendo/puns are also great and Sasha's perpetual foot in mouth made me laugh a lot. Its also a very substantial, meaty and thought provoking book- a lot of the time you're treated to Sasha's rambling inner dialogue that make her relatable. Pick-up is very much women's fiction and not just a romance. Nor is it a quick, binge-able beach read in my opinion, but one to be savored and mulled over. (And that's probably why it was a tough read)

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for the opportunity to read this ARC for an honest review.

PICK-UP is an entertaining read filled with sharp humor and swoony moments. It's not quite enemies-to-lovers for the enemy is only one-sided. Divorced dad Ethan remembers the very first conversation he had with Sasha and doesn't think he's ever enjoyed a conversation that much. Sasha has no recollection of that, and in fact considers him an enemy (referring to him as "Demon Dad") for all the times he has made Sasha's life harder while trying to be best parent she can to her kids. Not to mention, how he gives her unsolicited advice on how to hold her arms when running.

I loved how the author brought up questions that we can asks ourselves... what is it that we want that we aren't giving ourselves? and what are our barriers that's were holding up that's keeping us from happiness and love? I thought the author said it beautifully how all we want is someone (and ourselves) to see us as a whole person just as we are. I appreciated the reminder that there is so much uncertainty and unknown in relationships and what will become of it (if anything), yet people are constantly having them anyways even with all the fear and doubt. And it says a lot about a person when they have that fear, but still take the leap anyways.

I so loved Ethan's to-do lists and thought that was such a fun way to get to know him more. I am not a parent nor middle-aged and still thoroughly enjoyed reading this!

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

A book about a couple forced together on a tropical island. Yes, please! The author crafted this story with thought and care. It was entertaining to see the evolution of each of the main characters. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Sasha and Ethan’s story was a great enemies to lover, forced proximity romance read! I love multiple pov so you can get everyone’s feelings about the same situation. I however did not enjoy a third pov as this gets a bit much and sometimes confusing. I’ve read a lot of post-divorce “find the right guy” romances lately and honestly as I get older this is what I prefer to the college aged romances! Second chance at life and love, and with a tropical setting no less. The writing style was well done, and kept me interested.

Thank you for the ARC!


Sasha has just gone through a divorce when she starts having run ins with Ethan in the worst possible way (with him accidentally ruining her days). When she get the opportunity for a long term job she finds herself on an island without the chance to deny her growing feelings for him. But what really makes this special is that it is so much more than a romance book. In addition to exploring single parenthood, divorce, and prejudice we get a mysterious third main character in Kaitlin. The mystery of what she will become to the story, and then the discovery of who she is and what she does was just so perfec

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Pick-Up was such a surprise and I have to say - I loved it!

Sasha has just gone through a divorce when she starts having run ins with Ethan in the worst possible way (with him accidentally ruining her days). When she get the opportunity for a long term job she finds herself on an island without the chance to deny her growing feelings for him. But what really makes this special is that it is so much more than a romance book. In addition to exploring single parenthood, divorce, and prejudice we get a mysterious third main character in Kaitlin. The mystery of what she will become to the story, and then the discovery of who she is and what she does was just so perfect.

Recommended for any fan of fiction, this book has it all!