I have finished the Greene Sisters and I’m pretty unsure what to do with my life. This series was so wholesome with a smidgen of spice and I loved it!! Maybe a little more than a smidgen🤪. @kristinaforest_ what we got next!😂

🎤 Single Mom FMC
🎤 Forced Proximity
🎤 He falls first
🎤 Found Family
🎤 Workplace Romance
🎤 Slowburn

#bookrec #blackauthor #romancebooks #paperback #blacklove #berkleypartner #romancebookaddict

3.5 ⭐️

This one is kind of hard for me to review due to the themes in the book such as being a widow and single parent. The FMC lost her husband early on in their marriage and has been single ever since while raising her daughter. It also confirmed to me why I don’t care for widow romances. It always feels like it’s the new guys fault that you aren’t ready to move on. It’s so rare you read a book about a widow that has healed from the hurt and ready to love again which goes into the other thing I didn’t care for the constant rejection Iris was doing to Angel.

I do feel like the banter and flirting was cute but I couldn’t help feeling like Angel deserved better I think everyone deserves to be chosen and loved out loud. I did enjoy the song references and even paused the book to listen to a few to put me more in the moment. The karaoke birthday party was my favorite moment!

3.5/5 for me.

This was the last installment in the Greene Sisters series, which was well anticipated for me. This was the story of Iris and Angel. I loved Lily’s and Violet’s stories, but Iris’ didn’t hit the same.

I enjoyed the beginning of the book and felt that I was instantly hooked to the plot of the books. This book has the forbidden romance and workplace romance troupes which made the book interesting. The constant tug of war between being professional or inappropriate was painted well in this book: I enjoyed Iris character in the first two books, her self-assured and practical nature. I liked Angel as well, he was sweet and so gentle with Iris.

The third act is my main gripe with the story. It went on a little long. I felt myself getting bored after they got together. For me when the pinning stops between the characters I tend to get a little bored, so maybe it’s just a me thing. The story was wrapped up nicely and ended sweetly. This book was sweet, but the characters indecisiveness and overthinking made me roll my eyes more times than once.

I also feel that I should add that this book was a little spicy which I wasn’t expecting lol. I recall if the first two had spice, but this one did and I’m not mad at it.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Berkley for an ARC of this greatly anticipated read.

Rating: 3.5 stars

When she's not ready to start a relationship but he's patient because he knows she's worth the wait. Yes absolutely phenomenal hero!

Read if you love:

Celebrity romance
Single mom
She becomes his song writing muse
R&B/ Gospel roots
Mild spice

I understood the reluctance of the heroine to jump into a relationship up to a point but then the reasons seemed to drag out a bit and she was slightly frustrating.

Overall I definitely recommend!

I had a really good time getting to know Iris and Angel. Iris piqued my interest in The Neighbor Favor, mostly because I'm also the eldest daughter. I felt so much of her struggle to be the family rock, be everything for her daughter, show up and be dependable at work and feeling like there wasn't much left for herself at the end of the day. I normally don't love celebrity romance and I think it's because of all the spectacle. Even with Angel being as famous as he was in the story, it was nice to see those quiet moments he shared with Iris and the lengths he went to ensure their privacy. The romance was sweet, but the friendship was even sweeter. Watching these two show up for each other will forever be my favorite part of this story.

REVIEW SHOULD RUN WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS

The Love Lyric is the third book in Kristina Forest’s Greene Sisters series. We’ve met our two leads in the previous novels but the author does a great job of setting the story up so that this volume can easily be read as a standalone.

They met at her younger sister’s breakup party. Iris Greene found herself being charmed by pop R& B singer Angel Hughes. Gentle and amusing with a strong core of sweet, Angel is exactly the kind of guy Iris would have fallen for in her past life. But as a young widow and single mother to adorable six-year-old named Calla, she has other priorities than hot guys and fun flings. She lets the moment pass. And the next time she sees him, this time to celebrate her sister’s wedding, she shares a romantic dance with him and a far less romantic “let’s be less than friends” conversation afterward. Angel takes it with good grace but does wind up writing a hit song about his feelings for her. When she hears it on the radio, Iris recognizes herself in the lyrics and hopes fervently that absolutely no one else does. She does not need a super-star like Angel in her life. After years of hustling, Iris is the director of partnerships at a beauty company, and what she needs is the kind of steady, reliable man who can help her achieve even more. She needs a dad for her daughter, who will be there for all the recitals, school plays, and sports events to come. Not someone who will breeze in and out of their lives, leaving chaos in his wake.

Iris knows that Angel is the celebrity endorser for her company, but she’s not too worried about it. She’s a behind-the-scenes worker bee and not involved in their media blitzes. But when her friend and co-worker winds up having an at-risk pregnancy and needs to go on bed rest, Iris is the only one who knows the campaign well enough to step in for her. Now, she has a whole tour of intimate moments with Angel to look forward to. She makes it clear from the start they will have to be completely professional - always. Angel’s worked hard to get where he is, too, and he agrees. The last thing he wants is bad publicity just as he is getting to a place where he can finally start making his own kind of music rather than just the pop hits he’s been forced to churn out the last few years. But we all know the old saying about good intentions . . . .

For me, romance is a celebratory genre, one that focuses on the things that make life worth living - love, family, friends, and finding your niche in life. I have heard others describe it as fantasy, claiming it paints a glamorized picture of all of the above and doesn’t examine them realistically. I would say The Love Lyric falls into the latter category. A superstar who could choose anyone falls for the nerdy (but beautiful) single mom for no particular reason.

If the book was about two people with ordinary jobs, it would receive an A-. For a start, the characters are extremely likable and relatable. Angel is hardworking and kind. When our story first opens, he leans a little too much towards being a people pleaser, but he works on that and actually finds a really good balance for himself as the narrative progresses. Iris is an alpha without being an ass. She is driven, goal-oriented, organized, and meticulous. She is never a push-over, but she is caring and thoughtful, always going the extra mile for friends and family. In the beginning, we see her handling with grace a life filled to capacity - being a single parent, holding down a competitive and high-powered job, and opening herself up to a new romantic relationship. Iris does fight for those she loves when she needs to - there are several memorable scenes where she comes to Angel’s rescue - but she manages to do that without being a jerk.


I also liked how the relationship was depicted. Angel and Iris enjoyed doing simple things together - sharing meals, watching TV, hanging out. Their encounters focused on them and not the event, allowing us to see how natural and comfortable they were together and helping us to see them really connect. I loved that at heart they both loved domesticity and while they didn’t share the same opinion on everything (Angel is a weirdo who doesn’t like mint chocolate and doesn’t allow himself to be converted), they had enough in common to make me believe they would work as a couple. I also appreciated the workaround to his celebrity Angel had found that allowed him do ordinary things without being mobbed by adoring fans.

What didn’t work was the depictions of their jobs. Both had far too much free time given their perspective careers. Especially Iris, who had to juggle that with motherhood. Those jobs also didn’t impact how they saw the world or interacted with it, despite how mentally and physically demanding their carees would be. If the story had been about a high school principle and an accountant or any two people in the everyday realm I would give it an A. But anytime their respective work was mentioned it yanked me out of the story because how they lived didn’t fit with what they did to earn money.

If you can get past that glitch, The Love Lyric is a very enjoyable story about two wonderful people falling in love. I would recommend it to anyone who can apply a heavy dose of suspencion of disbelief to their novels and who enjoys watching the hero and heroine build a sincere, sustainable connection.

4.5 ⭐️
“In another life, maybe. But in this one, we’re kind of impossible.” The Love Lyric by Kristina Forest
This was such a good, sweet ending to the series. I was excited for Iris’s story because she is the oldest sister and I myself am also the oldest sister. I love that Iris is a strong and independent single mother. I liked seeing her become open to a second chance at happiness after becoming widowed at such a young age. Angel is an absolutely sweetheart and I love that he seemed to stay grounded after becoming famous. Angel falls for Iris first, and then he writes a song inspired by his feelings for Iris, *SWOON* I mean, how could you not fall for someone who writes a song for you? Overall, this was my favorite in the series and I think this was such a good, sweet ending to the Greene sisters.

I fell in love with Angels characters in the previous Greene Sisters books. He came across as such a gentle soul that needed someone to love him a little bit. Meanwhile Iris was written as the strong older sister with hidden depths. The two of them just felt like they belonged together and The Love Lyric provided that energy.

Angel and Iris are forced together when the Beauty Supply company Iris works for needs her to step in as his handler for their newest brand campaign. The two of them are forced into proximity causing the crush Angel has had on Iris to grow stronger. Before the two realize it, they are sneaking out to go on adventures together and confiding in each other.

The chemistry between Iris and Angel was so sweet and his willingness to get his hands dirty and put in the work so that they can be together was amazing. Ms. Forest writes about such realistic characters that feel like they could be your friends or family. I deeply enjoyed this book and found it to be the perfect conclusion to this trilogy of novels.

Not as great as the first two Greene sisters books but still enjoyable nonetheless. The romance felt a bit boring and one note, and the obstacle keeping them apart didn't feel as strong as the first two books.

The Love Lyric by Kristina Forest was so freaking excellent, I ate it up! The book follows Iris (a single mom who works at a beauty company) while she figures out her feelings for Angel (a popular singer). Angel and Iris meet on the first book of the Greene sisters at Violet's anti-wedding party. Angel has liked Iris for like three years but Iris had lost her husband and was not ready to date until this book. Angel is selected to be the face of the company Iris works for and Iris is kind of managing the campaign so it is meeeeessy. In a Marie Kondo kind of way "I love a mess." They get closer but in secret because the company cannot go through another controversy and keeping it from everyone slowly gets harder.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought the premise was fun. I thought that the author did a really good job at portraying the characters. The book is pretty much a close door romance with a little spice sprinkled in but do check the triggers to see if it is for you. There is a lot of dealing with grief and also a workplace romance so it might not be for everyone but it was sure for me. I keep saying but this book is so fantastic, I hope everyone gets a chance to read it.

Tropes: workplace, single mom, famous person

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley, and Kristina Forest for giving me a chance to review this book. All opinions are my own.

This is my favorite of the Greene Sisters series! I am so sad to see the sisters go, it has been an amazing time reading about them all and seeing them grow! Iris is hands down my favorite of the sisters. I related to her so much on being a big sister. From the other two books, I imagined Iris being this bossy, pushy, judgmental sibling, but she is actually the opposite! She loves and cares for her family so much,

Black History Month 2025 #5

Valentine's Day 2025 #2

I'll be honest. I haven't read THE NEIGHBOR FAVOR or THE PARTNER PLOT, but now I want to. Violet's character had me in a chokehold.

Single moms get so much hate. I love this trope. I love Iris' strength. I love Calla. I love their whole family. I love that Angel is slightly younger. (I hate that Angel's name is Angel, but that's a personal problem as my younger sibling's name is Angel. It is what it is.)

This is steamy. It's fast. I believe in instant gratification. It's delightful. It's everything I wanted for both Black History Month and Valentine's Day. I started this on the plane back from Bangkok and just finished it today. Not that I didn't want to finish it faster. Life is just getting in the way.

tw: grief, religious trauma, spouse death

🥃 Take a shot every time I read a book where the cast of characters is named after florals
🥃 Take a shot every time I'm amused by noona romance

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley

The third book in the Greene sister series. Iris is a grieving, career driven, single mother whose life gets unexpectedly turned upside down when she falls for her sister's client and her company's brand ambassador, Angel. I related to this sister's story far less than the other two, but this was still a comforting lovely story.

This was cute!!! It was just a sweet cozy read. I really enjoyed this one. This isn’t the normal type of book I would read. But I am happy I read it.

Thanks so much to @berkleyromance or the free book!

The Love Lyric follows Iris, a recently single mother and widow, that can’t help but feel lonely from time to time, even amidst her busy life and Angel a pop R&B singer, who is topping the charts and has secretly had a crush on Iris (his stylist’s sister) for years. The two must remain professional due to Angel being the brand ambassador for the beauty company that Iris works for, but it gets harder to deny their attraction and the way in which they are connected. The book follows the two characters on the brand campaign tour, which Iris is asked to be involved in after an incident with another coworker - thus putting Angel & Iris in pretty close proximity for an extended period of time.

This is the first book I’ve read by Kristina Forest & I have to say, I’ll definitely be reading more of her work! The Love Lyric was so well done, full of depth, heart, honesty and sweetness. Bringing together themes of love after loss, religious trauma, parenthood, following your heart and being sure that you truly love the work you do. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to read this gem of a book and look forward to future books by Kristina Forest!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley publishing for the ARC.

Oh my good gravy, what a LOVELY book this was! A viral singer falls in love with a gorgeous gal who is the VP of the company he is a brand ambassador for. He makes a song for her??? They go on tour???? She visits his home town???? The communication was beautiful!!!

Yes this book was a lil cheesy, but it was also so emotional and well crafted. Iris and Angel truly felt like fleshed out characters and I loved how their relationship progressed. Calla was such a wholesome gal and the way Terry was integrated into the story was so beautiful!

This was so fun, wholesome, and just amazing!!! I def want to read the other books in the series soon! Go read this when you can!

This was the perfect conclusion to the Greene Sisters series. I really enjoyed Iris’s story and the raw portrayal of grief, and how she balanced that with being a single mother and managing her career. Meanwhile, those around her had each other, leaving me to wonder—who was there for Iris? Angel was the definition of the perfect gentleman. Despite being a musician, he didn’t let his fame define him. He was exactly what Iris needed—patient, gentle, and understanding. In return, Iris was the woman he needed. It was heartwarming to see the characters grow and embrace their desires in both their careers and personal lives.

Kristina Forrest is such an underrated romance author! I have loved this series from the outset, and Iris’s unexpected romance with a famous singer was the icing on the cake. I loved seeing her open up and flourish throughout this novel, with the help of sweet Angel and his steady constant love for her.

The Love Lyric is book three in Kristina Forest’s Greene Sisters series. In this installment, we meet Iris Greene, a widow raising her daughter and working at beauty company. With all she has going on and seeing her sisters get their happy ever after, sometimes the loneliness sets in. R&B singer Angel Hughes has done well with his career and received a brand ambassador dear with the company Iris works for. When he learns Iris will working his campaign, Angel can’t believe he will get to spend time with the woman he has crushed on for years. Can Angel and Iris continue in a professional manager during the campaign and not give into the chemistry they feel and allow the music of love to flow and blossom?

Ms. Forest does a fine job with the storyline. The Love Lyric is a slow burn read and allows readers to learn Iris’s personality and how her past loss make her leery to want to try love again. Angel’s upbringing shapes his views and how he moves. He wants to learn all he can about Iris. This was a sweet love story. Loved how Angel wrote the song about Iris.

Such a wholesome romance read! And a sweet ending to the Greene Sisters books! I'm going to miss this sweet corner of the universe Kristina Forest has created with her characters and her romance.

We have all been waiting for Angel's and Iris's story, and Kristina does not disappoint! I'm a sucker for the celebrity romance trope, and I love how the story is bigger than that. This novel includes one of the more beautiful metaphors I've read about grief, one I know that will stick with me for a long time. Not only that, but Angel's story of acceptance (self-acceptance, and acceptance as it relates to the people around us) was so important and a great part of the story.

While this series has come to end, this will not be the last time I pick up a Kristina Forest novel.

Thank you for the gifted ARC!