4.5.
Kristina Forest wraps up the Greene Sisters series with The Love Lyric, delivering a heartfelt and compelling romance that beautifully balances themes of love, grief, and personal growth. This installment focuses on Iris Greene, a single mother and marketing professional navigating the challenges of raising her daughter while rediscovering herself after the loss of her husband. Angel, a celebrated musician with a surprisingly grounded personality, makes for a refreshing love interest. Their journey from hesitant coworkers to romantic partners feels authentic and deeply rewarding.

The story delves into family bonds, particularly the connection between Iris and her daughter, Calla, offering a touching glimpse into their lives. Angel’s storyline, exploring his faith and relationship with his mother, adds depth and a fresh perspective. While the romance is sweet and passionate, it’s the characters’ individual growth and their ability to heal that truly stand out.

Though the conclusion ties up loose ends nicely, some moments felt like they could have been explored further, particularly Iris and Angel’s life together after their romantic commitment. That said, Forest crafts a satisfying finale to a series full of charm and emotional resonance. Fans of diverse and heartfelt romance won’t want to miss this.

The Love Lyric is the third book in the Greene Sisters standalone series.

Iris is a single mother trying to climb up the corporate ladder in her beauty company. She doesn't have time for dating, or so she tells herself. It's been five years since her husband died and she has yet to get back into the dating pool. When famous pop R&B singer Angel Harrison makes it clear that he's into Iris, she politely makes it clear she's not interested in dating. Fate brings them together when he becomes a brand ambassador for her company and she is charged with managing his ambassador tour. Iris knows that getting involved with the talent is bad news for her career, but she can't resist the charming and kind singer.

I loved this celebrity romance! It was a great end to this series by Kristina Forest. I enjoyed the slow burn of Iris and Angel's romance. They circled each other over a span of years, and even when they went on the tour together, they didn't give into their attraction to one another right away. Forest took her time in building the tension and connection between Iris and Angel and when they finally decided to make a move, it was enrapturing.

Iris did not stand a chance against Angel. He was sweet, kind, thoughtful and respectful. I loved that he was direct with her, sharing how he felt but he also wasn't pushy when he could see she was putting up boundaries. When he pointed out to Iris that she also needed taking care of, I was in tears. Angel was seeing Iris behind that front she puts up for people and he made her feel safe enough to feel vulnerable.

Pick this one up for a sweet celebrity romance with a slow burn that will have your vibrating with anticipation!

Steam level: 🔥🔥🔥
⚠️: grief, mention of a fatal car accident and death of a spouse

ARC Review: 🎶The Love Lyric x Kristina Forest @kristinaforest_

5⭐️ 2🌶

Iris Greene’s life hasn’t been easy. She’s a single mom and a widow, balancing her career at a beauty company with raising her six-year-old daughter, Calla. At her sister’s wedding, Iris finally takes a moment to breathe…and runs into Angel Harrison, the famous R&B singer who’s secretly had a crush on her for years. Sparks fly, and despite trying to stay professional they don’t🤗.

I absolutely adored this book. Iris and Angel were oh-oh-oh so perfect together, and I’ve been waiting for their story ever since we got those little crumbs in the previous books. Let’s start with Iris: she was such a real and admirable character. I love when a heroine feels grounded, and Iris was exactly that—she’s juggling grief, motherhood, her career, and some very complicated choices about love. Usually, I can nitpick something about a character, but with Iris? Nothing. I just loved her.

And Angel… where do I even begin? I was nervous we’d get the “reformed playboy” arc, which can sometimes miss the mark, but Angel was perfect. Sweet, charming, and cutie-patootie. Smiling from start to finish. And the flirting? Chef’s kiss. Their banter and chemistry were just so fun and heartwarming.

This book had everything I wanted—flirting that made me swoon, characters who felt real, and a love story I couldn’t stop rooting for. Highly, highly recommend🥳!

Pub Day: February 4, 2025.

Thank You @berkleyromance for a free advanced copy.

This was my first Kristina forest book, and since reading this I picked up the partner plot and I can confidently says I love Kristina’s writing!! I find her stories to be relatively low angst and mature and when I’m in the mood for that, I LOVE IT.
The love lyrics has a FMC that’s over worked, eldest daughter syndrome and it was done so well.

Thank you so much to Berkley and NetGalley for early access to this book. I was given this after applying through Berkley’s Influencer Hub For Underrepresented Voices

This book solidified it for me - Kristina Forest is an autobuy author for me. She writes nothing but complete gold. The Love Lyric focuses on Iris, the eldest Greene sister as she navigates directing a campaign tour for her beauty company and her rising attraction to their star brand ambassador, all while still adjusting to being a widow and single mother.

I love that there were no wasted moments in this book. Every side character we met was engaging and thoroughly fleshed out. We get cute cameos from the rest of the Greene family. You can read this book as a standalone but there are very cute easter eggs to recognize if you've already read The Neighbor Favor and The Partner plot. The romance is incredible as always. The book is mostly clean with about three spicy scenes.

My pet peeve are authors writing about NYC when it's clear they haven't been here. Forest describes the city so wonderfully, like she's lived and breathed it for years. While the romance in the book was amazing, the story also serves as an excellent exploration of grief. Iris falling in love while also grieving her deceased husband was handled beautifully and with so much love and care. The moments that Terry was mentioned in the story came across as a celebration of his life and the love he gave to everyone who knew him. This book was perfect to me and I will be recommending it to all my romance reader friends.

4.5/5

He falls first • ‘forbidden’ romance • forced proximity • One is famous

“Who takes care of you?” he asked. Iris paused. “What?” “When you’re upset, who takes care of you?” “I—” She didn’t know how to answer that question. Because she didn’t have an answer. “I get the sense that you’re used to taking care of everything for everyone else,”

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley, I had the pleasure of reading this an ARC and Iris and Angel will forever have a special place in my heart. This story is so sweet and tender and a fantastic way to wrap up the Greene Sisters trilogy.

Loved the dynamic between Iris and Angel. The story felt real and genuine. This was my first kristina forest novel and it did not disappoint. Thank you to Berkeley Romance for gifting me this arc.

I couldn’t wait to get to Iris story!
This was a book I didn’t wait to start.

So many relatable moments and parts to this book. Iris is the oldest sister and daughter, making sure everyone else around is happy and healthy and safe, except for herself. Calla and Iris have lived life without Terry, as and unexpected tragedy, but Angel, Violet’s friend, has his eye on Iris.

Their chemistry, his thoughtfulness and their acceptance of what each other needs and wants and what feels comfortable kept me wanting to know what would happen next.

Thank you Berkeley Romance for this ARC! It took me a while to get invested in this story but I was hooked at about 30% until the end. I've been waiting for Iris and Angel's story since they met in The Neighbor Favor. I love that they got their love story. What an epic conclusion to the Greene sisters trilogy!

Thanks Netgallery and Berkley for the ARC of The Love Lyric in exchange for an honest review.

I am so sad. I was SO excited for this book! I enjoyed The Neighbor Favor, and I LOVED/ADORED The Partner Plot. But this one? It just didn’t work for me at all. IMO the chemistry between them Iris and Angel was non existent and their relationship felt superficial. In a book where the relationship should be forbidden, there was no tension. I really was expecting so much more. WITH THAT BEING SAID, maybe this book can work for you!

Read if you like:
🎶 Age Gap
🎶 Love after loss
🎶 Forbidden Romance


Again thanks to Berkley for the ARC.

As a devoted fan of the Greene sisters' stories, I was thrilled to learn that Iris was finally getting her turn in the spotlight! After becoming emotionally invested in Violet and Lily’s journeys, I found myself equally captivated by Iris. She’s a corporate powerhouse with a thriving career as an executive at a beauty company, and a dedicated single mom to her six-year-old daughter, Calla.

Iris’s life has been shaped by profound loss—her husband tragically passed away just a year and a half into their marriage, shortly after Calla’s birth. As the eldest Greene sibling, Iris is the glue that holds the family together, always putting everyone’s needs above her own. Despite her polished exterior, the story doesn’t shy away from revealing her deeply felt grief and the quiet, aching loneliness of losing her partner so early in life. Kristina Forest handles these moments with a delicate yet powerful touch, immersing readers in Iris’s heartache without letting it overshadow her strength and resilience.

When Iris crosses paths with pop star Angel Harrison, the new brand ambassador for her company, their chemistry is undeniable. Though their connection begins as professional, the campaign tour they embark on pushes them into closer proximity, and their witty banter lights up the pages. Angel’s connection to Iris’s world through Violet, his stylist, adds a natural thread that ties their lives together without feeling forced.

What I love most about this book is how distinct Iris’s story feels, even within the shared world of the Greene sisters. While Violet and Lily make charming appearances, they remain secondary characters, allowing Iris’s journey to take center stage. The novel captures the warmth and coziness of family while addressing Iris’s grief and her conflicting emotions as a mother and career woman.

Forest’s portrayal of motherhood feels especially poignant—she explores the duality of Iris’s life as she juggles the demands of her high-powered career with the tender yet complex responsibility of raising a daughter alone. The story beautifully depicts Iris’s struggle to balance professional obligations with her personal life, including navigating Calla’s feelings about her mother dating again. These moments feel real and relatable, highlighting the inner conflicts many women face when striving to excel in both worlds.

This book is everything I hoped it would be. Iris’s story is emotional, heartwarming, and full of charm, with just the right amount of humor and romance to keep you hooked. Seeing Iris find happiness after so much loss feels incredibly rewarding, and her happily-ever-after feels well deserved. Kristina Forest has once again delivered a gem that left me smiling long after the final page.

Excellent wrap-up to this trilogy. I enjoyed the gentle, respectful nature of the romance between Iris and Angel, while also enjoying the steam-factor of their encounters once things heated up!

We first met both characters briefly in The Neighbor Favor, and got another glimpse of them in The Partner Plot, but they were secondary characters that did not play a major role until this third title that focused on their relationship. And I'm so glad they got their own HEA. As a first-born daughter, I can totally relate to Iris' responsible, reliable, achievement-driven personality. I can also understand why a guy like Angel - patient, respectful, focused, would be so appealing. I loved that she was his muse, his defender, while he did what he could to be her caretaker and protector. Yes, there was physical attraction, but the emotional connection and the effort each was willing to put into the relationship was what made it so impactful.

I highly recommend the whole trilogy.

3.5-4 ⭐️ and 2🌶️
Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for a chance to review and providing me with an ARC copy. 

“I felt like you could use a song.”

I love when the MMC falls first but when the FMC is dealing with grief and heartbreak, it almost seems unfair to whoever is falling head over heels. In this case, it was Angel falling. 
Grief is challenging from beginning to end because it often seems like there isn't a beginning or an end to it, you just have to manage it. That's what Iris, the oldest Greene sister, learned to do after losing her husband. 

I don't mind time jumps in stories but sometimes a little more info is needed to understand the hows and whys. I would've loved at least one flashback to Angel in the past three years that made him go from "choir boy" to "playboy." 
The sweetest thing? Throughout his personal and career growth, Iris and her black flower never left his mind after Violet's party. I love that he continued to ask about her. 
I will give Iris credit that she took the time to heal from losing her husband. Properly healing through grief can save a lot of moments of self-sabotaging or losing out on a love that is meant to be. 

I really hope this series isn't coming to an end because I really love the Greene sisters. After reading The Love Lyric, I kind of want to see all the sisters and spouses on a vacation! Hint Hint 😉🤞🏾
✨Friends to lovers
✨Love after loss
✨Check your triggers

nobody hate me..i did not absolutely love this one. i saw so many people saying this was their favorite out of the series, and from the synopsis i thought it would be the most depthful, but i found myself disconnected from the characters and seeing as we were dealing with a deceased spouse, im not sure personally i enjoyed how the romance stemmed with that in mind? this could 100% be a me issue, and i still think she was a solid conclusion, im just not blown away.

4.25 STARS!
I love a romance that is smart, somewhat realistic, and not just full of fluff! This book has all of that! I loved the romance between Iris and Angel. Whenever I can imagine a book as a mini-series, I know I enjoyed the storyline and the writing.
The story involves more than just romance. There are more complex issues such as grief, dating after the loss of a spouse, integrating family, self-discovery and dealing with aging parents.
Plus you get a swoony, heartfelt, warm romance. It is nice to see a romance that isn't full of miscommunication, instead, there is communication that you would want to see between people who want to have a successful relationship.
And there is a little spice!
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for the ARC!
Put this on your TBR for 2025! You won't be disappointed!

Solid read and a solid sequel from Kristina Forest. Pacing and storyline were great making for a quick yet enjoyable read! It's already on order at my library! Looking forward to the next!

Thank you Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC 🫶🏾📚 pub date February 4th, 2025

What in the adorable!!! Those “out of nowhere” romances are always the best and this love story did not disappoint 🥹🤎 This was such a beautiful story about allowing love back into your life after (and during) grief + prioritizing your own needs. The romance in this book was sweet, warm and steamy. Very much a giggling and kicking your feet kind of read!

I liked a lot of things about this book y’all. I liked the depiction of Iris as a complex character who gives and gives and gives to those around her, but also struggles with grief and naming her own desires. I also liked the depiction of Angel as this non-stereotypical people pleasing celebrity with complicated family relationships and desires for his career. Although seemingly opposites, Iris and Angel had a lot of common which made their chemistry believable. Like the chemistry between Iris and Angel was legit seeping through the pages lol. I also liked how the other Greene Sisters books were interwoven in this story, but not so much that if you didn’t read any book in the series you’d be lost.

A few times, I wanted to reach through the pages and shake Iris like sis get your man!!!! But the backdrop of grief made you slow down with this character and root for her while she navigated the possibility of being open to new love. This book did have one trope that I despise so bad (and I won’t spoil which one) but it didn’t last long enough to bother me too much lol. I think I like this one more than The Neighbor Favor and I really enjoyed that one!!!

The last book of 'The Greene Sisters' series did not disappoint! I think this may be my favorite of the three. Kristina Forest's writing is one of my favorites & I look forward to reading whatever she puts out next. But "The Love Lyric" has to be her best yet!

This is definitely a romance of "right person, wrong time" where Iris is on the fence on whether she wants to pursue a relationship after the death of her husband, Terry. She struggles to find a medium between staying with what she knows & being in control or coming out of her comfort zone & dating Angel, who's so different.

But here is Angel, who only has eyes for Iris. He is so patient and decides to go after his heart to show Iris he really wants to be with her & ONLY her. This guy wrote not one, but multiple songs about his feelings for her! I was smiling and rooting for Angel & Iris the whole book! You can definitely feel the love & desire rising in this story as the tension between them builds at a steady, but realistic pace.

I appreciated that the topics of grief, letting go of toxic family members, and saying no to an unfulfilling job were mentioned in the book.

I love the fact that this is based around music. As I read, I immediately had Usher's hit song "Superstar" stuck in my head pretty much the whole time! 🤭.

Thank you to NetGalley & Berkley Publishing Group for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.❤️

This satisfying story of Iris Greene, the oldest of the Greene sisters, follows after Lily's story (The Neighbor Favor) and Violet's story (The Partner Plot). Part of what makes the story so satisfying is the love that is present, not only with the hero of the story, Angel Harrison, but also within the Greene family between the sisters, their parents, and Iris' daughter Calla.
Iris was widowed after a bare two years of marriage, leaving her with a young daughter. Understandably, she's reluctant to open herself to love and the pain of loss again, so she has focused on her career in business as an executive at a skincare company.
Angel is a celebrity R & B singer who initially met Iris a few years before he hit it big and was intrigued by her even then. When he becomes the brand spokesman for Iris' company and they are thrown together during a promotional tour of the country for the brand, sparks are flamed into something that truly scares the super-organized Iris, who much prefers things to be planned and predictable. How Iris and Angel negotiate the tricky intersection of private, public, and professional life makes for a truly wonderful story. Highly recommended.

We first saw glimpses of Iris in Neighbor Favor and Partner Plot (which you do not have to read to read this one) but they are interconnected with the characters.; however, this book follows Iris Greene as she learns how to juggle work, being a mom and getting back out on the dating scene after losing her husband to a tragic accident. I liked seeing more of the relationship Iris had with her daughter Calla and it was nice to see her let loose a little with Angel even from the beginning. I also enjoyed how Angel's character was really down to earth even though he was a famous singer he didn't let that change who he was and how he carried himself.

I was happy when Iris finally agreed to give Angel a chance and how he helped put a smile on her face; however, I didn't appreciate how her boss basically told her she had to choose between her personal love life and her job. Not everyone has that mentality and I thought it was unfair of her boss to throw her own life onto Iris and for Iris to accept that. I thought the book was going to go in a different direction at times especially when Iris was talking about her she felt about her job and when she actually sat down to think about what she wanted in her life and career.

Overall I enjoyed the book and I was happy we got our HEA but I would have liked to see more of Iris and Angel together after she agreed to dating him but that could just me being greedy...lol. This was a nice end to the Greene sisters but I wouldn't mind a holiday catch up with the whole family :). Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.